Non-therapeutic docking of dogs' tails
(Letter in The Veterinary Record, 10 December 2005)
SIR, Since 1993 it has been illegal for anyone except a veterinary surgeon to dock tails and the RCVS has advised vets not to do this except where it is in the best interests of the individual dog. The procedure is so abhorrent that the majority of veterinary surgeons (over 90 per cent) do not dock tails and many veterinary students are no longer taught how to carry out the procedure.
Tail-docking is considered to be a mutilation under Clause 5 of the recently published Animal Welfare Bill and in Clause 18 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill. However, there is concern that tail-docking may be allowed under an exemptions clause in the secondary legislation. The Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, has decided that Parliament will be taking a free vote on this issue. Therefore there is an opportunity for veterinary surgeons and members of the public to lobby their MPs to urge them to support a complete ban on the non-therapeutic (cosmetic or prophylactic) docking of dogs' tails.
We have urged the Scottish Parliament to ensure that there is no discrepancy between its legislation and any legislation proposed in England and Wales. Discrepancy between the countries could lead to neonatal puppies being shipped considerable distances to have their tails docked, which would have further adverse effects on their welfare.
The BVA believes that it is essential that veterinary surgeons and members of the public write to their MP/MSP on this subject and we ask them to do so now; if they have written in the past, then we urge them to do so again, and to do so immediately. A sample of text that may be used is available on the BVA's website (www. bva.co.uk). MPs' contact details may be found at www.locata.co.uk/commons/ and MSPs' at www.scottish.parliament.uk/ msp/index.htm. Otherwise they can be contacted at the House of Commons, London W1A 0AA, or in Scotland at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP.
A poster showing traditionally docked breeds with full tails has been re-designed by the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation in association with the BVA, BSAVA, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, PDSA, RCVS, RSPCA and Wood Green Animal Shelters. The poster will be mailed to all practices shortly; we hope that it may be used to persuade clients to write to their MPs too.
Freda Scott-Park
BVA President